I found this game really mixed.

There were some features that really got in the way of the gameplay. The art style is really bright and detailed, which often makes it hard to see where to go or what collectables there are. They also played with the perspective sometimes, and would take you from third person to isometric at unpredictable times.

The game doesn't let you jump, and you have to rely on it jumping you to the right place, which works 70% of the time. The other 30%, the game accidently throws you into acid water. The good thing is that saves frequently, so it's usually just a bit annoying. Although the game regularly saves in dungeons, you can't save and quit whenever you'd like. I personally found this really restricting, as the dungeons were already such a grind.

If you're expecting a difficult game, it's not. The first half of the game feels like the tutorial. I quickly outpaced the level that the game expected me to be at by trying to find all the chests, which made it kind of boring when the game forced me to loop back to the easier dungeons. The combat is also not that deep, and neither is the story.

Despite saying that, I played to the end of the story, so the game did hook me! Some puzzles were fun, and how they made you use magic in them was really enjoyable. I especially enjoyed the magic hoverboarding!

I would recommend, but approach it how it advertises itself: as a chill and relaxing experience. There's no time limit, so you can do as much as you'd like and focus on the character interaction side of it, if that's you're thing. You don't have to grind - finding all the chests doesn't really impact your gameplay, as the game forces you to go through so many dungeons that you'll naturally find equipment or the money to buy it. I didn't approach the dungeons this way until the last 5 hours, and they were definitely the most fun.

Ys + Zelda + Persona socializing = 5/5

(Beat it on Game Pass)

Dungeons of Hinterberg is an absolute gem! I LOVED every minute of it. Each dungeon feels fresh and distinct. Both the combat and puzzles gradually become more challenging as you progress through the game. It never gets repetitive because every dungeon brings something different to the table. The balance between relaxing exploration, puzzle-solving, and fighting monsters is spot on, making it easy to just sink in and enjoy the experience. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who wants a chill adventure where you can solve puzzles, battle enemies, and save Hinterberg.